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Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fast-Food-Fueled Car, and a Cross-Country Trip in Search of a Greener Future
Is it possible to drive coast-to-coast without stopping at a single gas pump? Journalist Greg Melville is determined to try. With his college buddy Iggy riding shotgun, this green-thinking guy-who's in love with the idea of free fuel-sets out on an enlightening road trip. The to be the first people to drive cross-country in a french-fry car. Will they make it from Vermont to California in a beat-up 1985 Mercedes diesel station wagon powered on vegetable oil collected from restaurant grease Dumpsters along the way? More important, can two guys survive 192 consecutive hours together? Their expedition on and off the road includes visits to the solar-powered Google headquarters; the National Ethanol Council; the wind turbines of southwestern Minnesota; the National Renewable Energy Lab; a visit to one of the first houses to receive platinum certification for leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed); an "eco-friendly" Wal-Mart; and the world's largest geothermal heating system. Part adventure and part investigation of what we're doing (or not doing) to preserve the planet, Greasy Rider is upbeat, funny, and full of surprising information about sustainable measures that are within our reach.
257 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2008
10 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Greg Melville
3 books59 followersGREG MELVILLE is an author, adventure journalist, and tombstone tourist whose writing has appeared in many of the country's top print publications including Outside, Men's Health, National Geographic Traveler, and The New York Times. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran.
Melville's latest project is "Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America's Cemeteries. His acclaimed environmental book Greasy Rider was the 'campus common read' for six colleges and universities, and named by the American Library Association as one of the top 100 "Outstanding Books for the College Bound" for the first decade of the 2000s. He has served as an editor at Men's Journal, Sports Afield, and Footwear News and as a crime reporter for a daily newspaper in Northern Virginia.
Melville taught English for four years at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was the lone recipient of the school's Apgar Award for Teaching Excellence in 2019.
Born and raised in the Boston area, he now lives with his wife and two kids in Delaware.
Melville's latest project is "Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America's Cemeteries. His acclaimed environmental book Greasy Rider was the 'campus common read' for six colleges and universities, and named by the American Library Association as one of the top 100 "Outstanding Books for the College Bound" for the first decade of the 2000s. He has served as an editor at Men's Journal, Sports Afield, and Footwear News and as a crime reporter for a daily newspaper in Northern Virginia.
Melville taught English for four years at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was the lone recipient of the school's Apgar Award for Teaching Excellence in 2019.
Born and raised in the Boston area, he now lives with his wife and two kids in Delaware.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 16, 2008
I expected Greasy Rider to be informative. I did not expect it to be funny. Greg Melville is a funny writer and managed to get me laughing out loud as he described car breakdowns, emotional breakdowns, snowstorms, a desperate search for fry oil, and the effect of death on travel writing (“If you die, it would really help me out,” he tells his wingman Iggy).
The book is the classic American road trip – green style. Melville does a wonderful job explaining both the mechanics – from a decidedly non mechanical point of view – of both the car and the oil as well as describing the insanity anyone will encounter when they traverse this… diverse yet homogenous nation of ours.
But then Melville goes a step further and researches in a series of side trips other forms of alternative energy – solar, wind, ethanol, switchgrass, soylant green (kidding!), and geothermal. Some of his research made me cry for the soon to be departed human race, other research was incredibly amazing and incredibly hopeful. Also, I now want to work for Google – and not just for the juice.
My only question – how did he get home? This book is really only half a book. I hope to see more from him in the future.
The book is the classic American road trip – green style. Melville does a wonderful job explaining both the mechanics – from a decidedly non mechanical point of view – of both the car and the oil as well as describing the insanity anyone will encounter when they traverse this… diverse yet homogenous nation of ours.
But then Melville goes a step further and researches in a series of side trips other forms of alternative energy – solar, wind, ethanol, switchgrass, soylant green (kidding!), and geothermal. Some of his research made me cry for the soon to be departed human race, other research was incredibly amazing and incredibly hopeful. Also, I now want to work for Google – and not just for the juice.
My only question – how did he get home? This book is really only half a book. I hope to see more from him in the future.
September 22, 2008
Take an Eastern liberal with no mechanical aptitude, pair him with a down-to-earth college friend who knows his way around an engine, and put them in a retooled Mercedes for an eight-day trip across the country while begging restaurants for fry-oil fuel -- and you'll have a laugh-aloud read that leaves you longing for French fries. Greg Melville & his pal Iggy travel from Burlington, Vermont to Berkeley, CA in the footsteps of cross-country driving pioneer H. Nelson Jackson, while searching for greener alternatives to everyday life. Not only do they glimpse Al Gore's Tennessee mansion and visit Fort Knox's geothermally-powered complex, they also encounter Hank in Nebraska (and his self-published Jesus screed), endure teeth-chattering cold as they climb the Rockies (the Mercedes' heat stops working when the car exceeds 50 mph), and discover another college pal is gay (his computer log-in is “Two Gay Guys”). Combined with side trips to Google, Dartmouth, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a wind-turbine farm, and the world's first green Wal-Mart, Melville delivers a funny and thought-provoking tale that not only splits your sides, but makes you ponder reducing your carbon footprint.
January 26, 2015
Great 'documentary' of two men who challenge themselves to drive a converted car all the way across the U.S. using only scrounged used fryer oil from restaurant grease dumpsters-a French fry car. The author is a journalist, so the writing is very engaging and funny.
He intersperses the story of the trip with follow up visits he made to various sustainable or environmental organizations afterwards: Al Gore's house (it's not very green), solar powered Google headquarters, the Ethanol Council, and the world's largest geothermal heating system located at Fort Knox.
His conclusion is that if we leave it up to the corporate world whose bottom line is profit and not the public interest, change won't happen in time to stop the environmental damage. He encourages government to set aside big business interests and their lobby and to pass legislation that encourages change in the interest of renewable energies and sustainability.
He intersperses the story of the trip with follow up visits he made to various sustainable or environmental organizations afterwards: Al Gore's house (it's not very green), solar powered Google headquarters, the Ethanol Council, and the world's largest geothermal heating system located at Fort Knox.
His conclusion is that if we leave it up to the corporate world whose bottom line is profit and not the public interest, change won't happen in time to stop the environmental damage. He encourages government to set aside big business interests and their lobby and to pass legislation that encourages change in the interest of renewable energies and sustainability.
February 11, 2016
A fun road trip across the country in a retro fitted bio diesel car. This book explores "green" technologies and issues.
Read
May 4, 2020How much is a gallon of gas these days? $2.50? Remember when it was around $5! Man, I hated to fill up my car on those days.
What would you think of a car that ran on fuel that costs nothing? That you could get for free?
The author's tree-hugging, enviro-conscious wife convinces him to convert their old 1980s Mercedes station wagon from diesel to vegetable oil. Greg had wanted a big, manly pick-up, something with a nice V-8 growling under the hood. But the chance to get something for nothing sold him on the idea.
Read p.2 "I only take a stand on something …"
Well, for someone who really wanted a pick-up truck, Greg gets gung-ho pretty fast about his fry-oil car. He hassles a local restaurant into setting aside its used canola oil each week (free!) and tells anyone who asks about the difference between biodiesel and petroleum. But the best part is when he dreams up the idea to become the first to drive a fry-oil car from coast to coast. With him as wingman is his college buddy, Iggy.
Read p. 18 "The oil's heated. We're a go! ..."
What would you think of a car that ran on fuel that costs nothing? That you could get for free?
The author's tree-hugging, enviro-conscious wife convinces him to convert their old 1980s Mercedes station wagon from diesel to vegetable oil. Greg had wanted a big, manly pick-up, something with a nice V-8 growling under the hood. But the chance to get something for nothing sold him on the idea.
Read p.2 "I only take a stand on something …"
Well, for someone who really wanted a pick-up truck, Greg gets gung-ho pretty fast about his fry-oil car. He hassles a local restaurant into setting aside its used canola oil each week (free!) and tells anyone who asks about the difference between biodiesel and petroleum. But the best part is when he dreams up the idea to become the first to drive a fry-oil car from coast to coast. With him as wingman is his college buddy, Iggy.
Read p. 18 "The oil's heated. We're a go! ..."
May 3, 2020
Overall I thought it was a very entertaining book and educational as well. However sometimes I was a bit frustrated because he didn’t give the complete story. For example, we talked about the plan to go from Vermont to California in 8 days but didn’t explain the plan for coming back. Also, he would mention stopping to visit a friend but then say nothing about how that visit went. He also complained a lot about his friend but I’m sure his friend also complained about him. So it was a bit one-sided because we didn’t hear of his friends complaints about him.
Lastly I googled him after reading the book and found out that someone else did the same trip before he did! It seems a journalist would’ve done his homework a little bit more thoroughly before taking this venture himself. But I still learned a lot and I still thought it was a fun read.
Lastly I googled him after reading the book and found out that someone else did the same trip before he did! It seems a journalist would’ve done his homework a little bit more thoroughly before taking this venture himself. But I still learned a lot and I still thought it was a fun read.
May 16, 2017
Picked this up totally at random from my library - but it was a fun, informative read. That perfect combination of entertaining and educational.
I would have thought the way he wove the main trip with the later sub-trips might have been clunky, but it all came together just fine. The whole thing wove together into a relevant whole.
The only thing I wanted? A bit more info at the end: did they just sell the car in CA and fly home? If they drove home, did they go right away, or have to get a major tune-up first? What did Iggy's kids think of all their schlocky awesome gifts?
Made me consider challenging my teenager to convert his own fry-mobile when it comes time for him to get his license... We'll see.
I would have thought the way he wove the main trip with the later sub-trips might have been clunky, but it all came together just fine. The whole thing wove together into a relevant whole.
The only thing I wanted? A bit more info at the end: did they just sell the car in CA and fly home? If they drove home, did they go right away, or have to get a major tune-up first? What did Iggy's kids think of all their schlocky awesome gifts?
Made me consider challenging my teenager to convert his own fry-mobile when it comes time for him to get his license... We'll see.
July 23, 2024
4.5/5 stars for as non fiction environmental books go!
pretty good overall, I learned a lot about a niche form of environmentalism and how important it is to confront and push the norm to create change
pretty good overall, I learned a lot about a niche form of environmentalism and how important it is to confront and push the norm to create change
November 21, 2011
Greasy Rider Algonquin Books
By Greg Melville Non-fiction 247 pages $15.95 ISBN-13: 987-1-56512-595-7
In 2008, Greg Melville drove from coast to coast on less than one tank of gasoline. How did he do it?, Easy by modifying his used 1980’s Mercedes diesel sedan into a green veggie oil burning vehicle. Greg Melville is a freelance journalist from Burlington, Vermont, who set out to look for a greener future. He has been published in magazines and newspapers such as Outside, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, and the Wall Street Journal.
Traveling over 3,900 miles in a fry-oil car is no easy task. Greg Melville tells you all the ups and downs to owning one of these green machines, and riding shotgun with him throughout the journey is Iggy, a college bud. He’s a handy friend to bring along on this kind of trip, being sufficiently good mechanic, and engineer. On this eight-day trip, they run into every possible problem you could with a grease car. From transmission failure to ripped timing belts to blown grease plugs, a 3,900 mile journey is sure to bring out the best and the worst in your car. At the end of each day, Iggy gives Greg an errand to be completed after the trip is over. Greg goes on these errands, seeking out the greenest people and places in America, each put into their own renewable energy source category. Each of these errands must be completed one year from the day Greg and Iggy leave Google headquarters. If completed in time, Greg gets a grand total of $50 from Iggy. They bring him everywhere, from the plains of Minnesota to Fort Knox and everywhere in between. The only thing lacking is the journey home. Melville doesn’t explain how he gets back to his family waiting for him in Vermont. The returning half of the journey is a crucial part of the mission to find a greener future. This may lead you to believe it was smooth sailing from west to east, but after reading this book, you’ll understand why that is impossible.
Hilariously funny, and also informative about the situation our world is in today, Greasy Rider is a must read. Exploring numerous green options, this book is one you can’t put down until the end. He brings you through his every emotion, from the awkwardness of asking a Mexican restaurant store manager for some oil to the triumph of feeling the warm California sun at the Google headquarters in Berkley.
Greasy Rider is a fantastic book for everybody at least 13 years old or more. Great for all ages, but much of the comedy infused in the reading could go over one who reads it too young. It is ideal book for teenagers, but great for everyone older. Inspiring and humorous with facts blended in, Greasy Rider is a perfect book for your summer days off.
By Greg Melville Non-fiction 247 pages $15.95 ISBN-13: 987-1-56512-595-7
In 2008, Greg Melville drove from coast to coast on less than one tank of gasoline. How did he do it?, Easy by modifying his used 1980’s Mercedes diesel sedan into a green veggie oil burning vehicle. Greg Melville is a freelance journalist from Burlington, Vermont, who set out to look for a greener future. He has been published in magazines and newspapers such as Outside, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, and the Wall Street Journal.
Traveling over 3,900 miles in a fry-oil car is no easy task. Greg Melville tells you all the ups and downs to owning one of these green machines, and riding shotgun with him throughout the journey is Iggy, a college bud. He’s a handy friend to bring along on this kind of trip, being sufficiently good mechanic, and engineer. On this eight-day trip, they run into every possible problem you could with a grease car. From transmission failure to ripped timing belts to blown grease plugs, a 3,900 mile journey is sure to bring out the best and the worst in your car. At the end of each day, Iggy gives Greg an errand to be completed after the trip is over. Greg goes on these errands, seeking out the greenest people and places in America, each put into their own renewable energy source category. Each of these errands must be completed one year from the day Greg and Iggy leave Google headquarters. If completed in time, Greg gets a grand total of $50 from Iggy. They bring him everywhere, from the plains of Minnesota to Fort Knox and everywhere in between. The only thing lacking is the journey home. Melville doesn’t explain how he gets back to his family waiting for him in Vermont. The returning half of the journey is a crucial part of the mission to find a greener future. This may lead you to believe it was smooth sailing from west to east, but after reading this book, you’ll understand why that is impossible.
Hilariously funny, and also informative about the situation our world is in today, Greasy Rider is a must read. Exploring numerous green options, this book is one you can’t put down until the end. He brings you through his every emotion, from the awkwardness of asking a Mexican restaurant store manager for some oil to the triumph of feeling the warm California sun at the Google headquarters in Berkley.
Greasy Rider is a fantastic book for everybody at least 13 years old or more. Great for all ages, but much of the comedy infused in the reading could go over one who reads it too young. It is ideal book for teenagers, but great for everyone older. Inspiring and humorous with facts blended in, Greasy Rider is a perfect book for your summer days off.
October 18, 2008
Greasy Rider was an enjoyable story, that read more like a travel journal than a treatise on green practices. The story starts in Vermont, where the author lives, and details the triumphs as well as the trials and tribulations of attempting to drive a greasecar across the United States.
Greasecars convert diesel cars to burn fry-oil with a relatively inexpensive conversion kit. (a couple of thousand was mentioned, not the exact price) Once this conversion was completed, the author and his friend Iggy (who is a car guy friend, and fixed all minor car problems). Along the way, Iggy sets side errands for Greg to complete within a year after the trip is complete.
So many things happen to the car itself along the way, that you wonder if they will be able to finish the trip. I won't give away the ending and take away the suspense. The errands comprise the informative sections of the book, education on green practices and costs. In some instances, Greg is forced to confront beliefs he widely held as false, and he treats all the companies he approaches in the errands fairly. In some cases he is disappointed with the results. In all, you come away with new knowledge of green practices.
One of the biggest drawbacks to a grease car it seems, is the smell! When you have to haul around used fry-grease you start smelling like fried food, and the exhaust apparently smells like fried food. I know a couple of times I've been driving and have smelled fries, where there was no restaurant around. I'm guessing someone was driving a grease car.
I do not consider myself an environmentalist, and I could probably never afford a LEED standard home, but there are many things that I would love to incorporate into our home of the future. It is frustrating that many of the best practices are so expensive initially-and you may not see a cost return for many years. I was pleased to see this point in the book, but I would hope that it won't deter people from being as environmentally friendly as they can. I concluded that while a greasecar would be decent local transportation, that it could pose quite a challenge finding clean enough used fry oil to make it a viable long-distance vehicle.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was humorously written, and educational without being preachy.
Greasecars convert diesel cars to burn fry-oil with a relatively inexpensive conversion kit. (a couple of thousand was mentioned, not the exact price) Once this conversion was completed, the author and his friend Iggy (who is a car guy friend, and fixed all minor car problems). Along the way, Iggy sets side errands for Greg to complete within a year after the trip is complete.
So many things happen to the car itself along the way, that you wonder if they will be able to finish the trip. I won't give away the ending and take away the suspense. The errands comprise the informative sections of the book, education on green practices and costs. In some instances, Greg is forced to confront beliefs he widely held as false, and he treats all the companies he approaches in the errands fairly. In some cases he is disappointed with the results. In all, you come away with new knowledge of green practices.
One of the biggest drawbacks to a grease car it seems, is the smell! When you have to haul around used fry-grease you start smelling like fried food, and the exhaust apparently smells like fried food. I know a couple of times I've been driving and have smelled fries, where there was no restaurant around. I'm guessing someone was driving a grease car.
I do not consider myself an environmentalist, and I could probably never afford a LEED standard home, but there are many things that I would love to incorporate into our home of the future. It is frustrating that many of the best practices are so expensive initially-and you may not see a cost return for many years. I was pleased to see this point in the book, but I would hope that it won't deter people from being as environmentally friendly as they can. I concluded that while a greasecar would be decent local transportation, that it could pose quite a challenge finding clean enough used fry oil to make it a viable long-distance vehicle.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was humorously written, and educational without being preachy.
July 20, 2015
This is a 2008 report about two men, the author and a friend, who drive a car powered by waste cooking oil across the U.S., from Vermont to California, and were possibly the first to do so. The car is a well-worn Mercedes Benz Diesel station wagon, modified to burn the used vegetable oil from restaurants. the idea is to demonstrate the viability of this alternative fuel source as a step to reduce US dependence on petroleum and on foreign oil in particular.
The author is an experienced travel writer, so the writing is fairly good, and his friend is both essential to the trip's success and eccentric enough to be annoying to the author and amusing to the reader.
As the narrative unfolds, not only are the facts and adventures of the trip described and analyzed, but various discussions are presented of topics as varied as environmental stewardship, the ethics of taking used restaurant oil, sustainability, the history of automobile travel, the role of companies as diverse as WalMart and Google in how our economy affects the planet, and the nature of friendships.
This book was enjoyable as a travel narrative, partly because I have also driven cross-country in an old Mercedes Diesel (but not on veggie oil). It was also at least as interesting for its environmental considerations because I have lately been considering the possibility of buying an electric car. This book was written before electric cars were widely available, so as I read it I thought about how it would read if the travelers' search for suitable restaurant waste oil to power the car for the next leg of the trip -- a major preoccupation during some portions of the drive -- were replaced by a search for places to charge an electric car's battery. Lots of similar issues apply to the two alternative "fuel" systems, and it was not much of a stretch to imagine myself in their shoes but with a battery running out of juice rather than a car running out of veggie oil. (And from having come awfully close to running out of Diesel fuel on my own trip 40 years ago, the travelers' situations were easy to relate to!)
So, enjoyable and enlightening and thought-provoking in a modest way, and an easy read.
I do wonder how much the situation for veggie oil (or biodiesel, also discussed) has changed in the 7 or 8 years since the book was written.
The author is an experienced travel writer, so the writing is fairly good, and his friend is both essential to the trip's success and eccentric enough to be annoying to the author and amusing to the reader.
As the narrative unfolds, not only are the facts and adventures of the trip described and analyzed, but various discussions are presented of topics as varied as environmental stewardship, the ethics of taking used restaurant oil, sustainability, the history of automobile travel, the role of companies as diverse as WalMart and Google in how our economy affects the planet, and the nature of friendships.
This book was enjoyable as a travel narrative, partly because I have also driven cross-country in an old Mercedes Diesel (but not on veggie oil). It was also at least as interesting for its environmental considerations because I have lately been considering the possibility of buying an electric car. This book was written before electric cars were widely available, so as I read it I thought about how it would read if the travelers' search for suitable restaurant waste oil to power the car for the next leg of the trip -- a major preoccupation during some portions of the drive -- were replaced by a search for places to charge an electric car's battery. Lots of similar issues apply to the two alternative "fuel" systems, and it was not much of a stretch to imagine myself in their shoes but with a battery running out of juice rather than a car running out of veggie oil. (And from having come awfully close to running out of Diesel fuel on my own trip 40 years ago, the travelers' situations were easy to relate to!)
So, enjoyable and enlightening and thought-provoking in a modest way, and an easy read.
I do wonder how much the situation for veggie oil (or biodiesel, also discussed) has changed in the 7 or 8 years since the book was written.
December 5, 2014
"Greasy Rider is a book about a journalist named Greg Melville who wants to drive from coast to coast without a single stop at the gas pump. Greg is very interested in cars and wants to save money. Greg Melville bought a used 1985 Mercedes station wagon to save money for his family. A good mechanic, Greg changes the car from a diesel running car to a vegetable oil car. Converting the car was no challenge for Greg at all. Greg decides to travel from Vermont to California with his college buddy Iggy. During their 8 day trip, the experience the worst possible things that could happen to their car. Blown grease plugs, broken transmission, and ripped timing belts could not stop these two to completing their goal. From awkward situations for oil at restaurants, and funny jokes along the way, the guys have much fun. The veggie car traveled over 3,900 miles to get to their destination. Greg and Iggy have fun during their trip. Iggy challenges Greg with goals to complete in one day. If Greg completes the, he earns 50 dollars from Iggy. The two guys visit many interesting places on their way across the coast. They travel from Fort Knox, Minnesota, California, and even the Google Headquarters. Just getting their wasn't the only part. The challenge for the two was getting back to his family at home. Greasy Rider was a humorous book with adventures and fun at every turn. I think the book was funny and interesting and satisfied my expectations. The book is intended for readers who are interested in saving the environment and adventure. "Greasy Rider" captures the helping of the world with a fun twist. I give Greasy Rider 4 and a third stars. It was a great book and recommend this book for your days off.
November 20, 2013
Thisbook is titled “Greasy Rider” and is written by Greg Melville. I have never heard of Greg Melville before maybe because this book is just the story of his adventure across the country with an old college pal and his escape from a Wal-Mart hating wife. Greg Does an exceptional job in writing this book.
Soas I mentioned this is a book about Greg who buys an old Mercedes wagon and coverts it to run on filtered waste grease. Greg is given one week to make the journey from Vermont to California. Greg asked his old college pal Iggy to join him because he is a mechanic and Greg needs guidance. Along the way the guys run into some weird encounters with some odd people. For example when the guys were mistaken for terrorists for having a backseat filled with white five gallon buckets and wearing gloves with close pins on their noses. Lets not forget Iggy’s need to buy something from every store they go into wether it be knick knacks or shop rags. The guys also had to overcome their fear of asking restaurants for their used waste grease that they would have to pay to get taken away. Iggy also gives Greg Errands, which are just little tasks he has to complete with a deadline. For example Greg had to find out if Al Gore’s mansion was as ecofriendly as it claims to be.
Iam on the fence about a recommendation for this book. However I will tell you I recommend it for those of you who like to read very factual book with a lot of dry humor about Biofuel. This book was really not for me but I would encourage you all to try it and if you don’t like it put it down and get another book.
December 20, 2013
I read "Greasy Rider" by Greg Melville. This book is about two guys who want to see if they can make their way from Vermont to California without stopping at a single gas station. How is this possible? French fry grease is their answer. These guys have rigged up their engine so that it uses french fry grease as a fuel. Along the way, they stop at many energy plants to investigate greener alternatives to oil. They beg, steal, and hunt for grease on this hilarious yet eye opening journey.
I really liked how these two guys were daring enough to go on a quest like this. It seems like it should be impossible, but they prove that it is not. I liked all of the comedy that Melville adds into the book. The two guys are always making fun of something, and this makes the book very entertaining to read. I was always anxious to see what Greg was going to say next. Also, I really liked the point that they proved. They really did prove that not many people understand that there are alternatives to oil, and these guys sure demonstrated that.
There was not much that I did not like about this book. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that the guys did not really explain the downsides to the alternatives such as solar energy or corn oil. It's obvious that there must be at least a few downsides to each of those options, but Melville did not really exploit those.
Overall, this is a great book. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially to a person who has interest in the enviornment. It is a hilarious journey which talks about our earth, and it is enjoyable for anyone.
I really liked how these two guys were daring enough to go on a quest like this. It seems like it should be impossible, but they prove that it is not. I liked all of the comedy that Melville adds into the book. The two guys are always making fun of something, and this makes the book very entertaining to read. I was always anxious to see what Greg was going to say next. Also, I really liked the point that they proved. They really did prove that not many people understand that there are alternatives to oil, and these guys sure demonstrated that.
There was not much that I did not like about this book. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that the guys did not really explain the downsides to the alternatives such as solar energy or corn oil. It's obvious that there must be at least a few downsides to each of those options, but Melville did not really exploit those.
Overall, this is a great book. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially to a person who has interest in the enviornment. It is a hilarious journey which talks about our earth, and it is enjoyable for anyone.
December 10, 2014
Tommy Roskos
Ms. Peyman
English 1- Period B
5 December 2014
Book Review
Most people use motorized gasoline engine cars, others use electric cars. There is also
a small percentage of people who use vegetable oil for their cars. This book, Greasy Rider by
Greg Melville, talks about the journey of two guys experimenting vegetable oil for their cars.
The two guys take a tour across the USA to see how this can work. Throughout this book you
will find out how this new material is used in cars. They start in Syracuse, New York and their
final destination is Los Angeles California to see how it reacts with the surrounding
environments from all parts of the United States. Will this plan work or not?
This book was very interesting and a new way of thinking about the environment. Of
course it is a big topic about the toxic fuels released out of motorized vehicles. It shows how
vegetable oil uses natural and organic fuels to run a car with reducing the toxic waste by almost
70%. This means that this could be a new innovation for the rest of the world. This could reduce
global warming, smog and make the air nice and clean by just changing our car fuel. I would
recommend this book to a person who is interested in earth's environment or majors or studies
in environmental science. Even someone who finds this topic interesting would be perfect for
this read. Enjoy the book anybody who reads it, will love it.
Ms. Peyman
English 1- Period B
5 December 2014
Book Review
Most people use motorized gasoline engine cars, others use electric cars. There is also
a small percentage of people who use vegetable oil for their cars. This book, Greasy Rider by
Greg Melville, talks about the journey of two guys experimenting vegetable oil for their cars.
The two guys take a tour across the USA to see how this can work. Throughout this book you
will find out how this new material is used in cars. They start in Syracuse, New York and their
final destination is Los Angeles California to see how it reacts with the surrounding
environments from all parts of the United States. Will this plan work or not?
This book was very interesting and a new way of thinking about the environment. Of
course it is a big topic about the toxic fuels released out of motorized vehicles. It shows how
vegetable oil uses natural and organic fuels to run a car with reducing the toxic waste by almost
70%. This means that this could be a new innovation for the rest of the world. This could reduce
global warming, smog and make the air nice and clean by just changing our car fuel. I would
recommend this book to a person who is interested in earth's environment or majors or studies
in environmental science. Even someone who finds this topic interesting would be perfect for
this read. Enjoy the book anybody who reads it, will love it.
November 17, 2015
Have you ever thought that it was possible to travel across the United States without stoping at a gas station. Well in this book you will experience some hand on stories as Greg and Iggy travel across the U.S. Dont think that you can make it across without breaking down a few times read as Greg and Iggy make there journy across the nation.
The book Greasy rider is about two men who like to travel the U.S to find out anything they can to conserve their energy. Have you ever thought that it was possible to drive across the U.S. without stopping at a gas station. Greg and his friend Iggy were very determined to be the first to drive all the way from the west coast to the east coast in a car that runs off of french fry grease and other oils. Greg and his friend Iggy were very friendly people. As they traveled across the U.S. they got together with many other people that were also owners of cars that were powered by french fry grease. Read this book to find out how Greg and Iggy make a positive change on the worlds amount of carbon that they use.
I think that the age type that would be interested in this book is 30+. I think that this age group is appropriate because at this age either people are starting to realize that their economy need help or they must decide that they don't care. Reading this book can help them know that there is a way to help the world and to not pollute it with carbon. I also think that this is a good age group because at this age most people would have enough money to buy a house and do the things to it to make it greener.
November 6, 2008
In the breezy style indicating a membership in the Men’s Journal club (also required are a wife in charge and a rather substandard knowledge of how things really work), Greg Melville sets off from Vermont to Berkeley in a 1980s Mercedes wagon, converted to run on restaurant grease. A few miles out of town, “wingman” Iggy suggests a bet, that Melville can’t “extract a lesson” in sustainability from every day they’re on the road. Melville eventually agrees, although he’d rather that Iggy just die. As a seasoned travel writer, Melville knows that tragic death beats “lessons” every time.
Motoring backwards in the path of H. Nelson Jackson, the first guy to drive coast to coast (1903), Melville and Iggy get to the brightly lit bottom of Al Gore’s personal energy consumption and suggest possible answers to questions like:
Is God angry that men have so messed up the environment?
How will the revolution be won?
Dude, would you really want to live there?
Brady Bunch allusions, waitresses, road rage, and sucking grease out of the bottom of dumpsters are just some of the joys found in this travelogue—the “lessons” are conveniently printed in a different font. Above all, this book is a tribute to American driving spirit: Gas or Grease, We Will Always Find a Way to Hit the Highway.
Motoring backwards in the path of H. Nelson Jackson, the first guy to drive coast to coast (1903), Melville and Iggy get to the brightly lit bottom of Al Gore’s personal energy consumption and suggest possible answers to questions like:
Is God angry that men have so messed up the environment?
How will the revolution be won?
Dude, would you really want to live there?
Brady Bunch allusions, waitresses, road rage, and sucking grease out of the bottom of dumpsters are just some of the joys found in this travelogue—the “lessons” are conveniently printed in a different font. Above all, this book is a tribute to American driving spirit: Gas or Grease, We Will Always Find a Way to Hit the Highway.
October 21, 2008
This book was great! First of all, it was free, so that's always a bonus. But even if I had to pay for it, it would have been worth it.
Greg Melville wants a new truck. His wife wants something greener. Way greener. So he decides to get an old Mercedes with a diesel engine and convert it to run on old cooking oil. Then he gets inspired to take a road trip, using nothing but free recycled oil in his car. He calls up his old buddy Iggy and the two hit the road.
The title alone is a hint that this is bound to have some funny moments. The two friends get on each others nerves and kid each other like teenagers. The car breaks down with alarming regularity. Greg gets peed on by a dog. Stuff happens, and it's pretty funny stuff.
I also enjoyed the 'errands' - side trips that Greg takes to discover what else is being done in the Green Movement to make life on earth a little more sustainable. I felt cheered to see that there are a lot of people dedicated to making a difference, and some of these ideas are practical and affordable.
This was just a fun book and a good read. Way to go, Greg! Here's hoping that everyone who read this is inspired to make a few changes in their own lives.
Greg Melville wants a new truck. His wife wants something greener. Way greener. So he decides to get an old Mercedes with a diesel engine and convert it to run on old cooking oil. Then he gets inspired to take a road trip, using nothing but free recycled oil in his car. He calls up his old buddy Iggy and the two hit the road.
The title alone is a hint that this is bound to have some funny moments. The two friends get on each others nerves and kid each other like teenagers. The car breaks down with alarming regularity. Greg gets peed on by a dog. Stuff happens, and it's pretty funny stuff.
I also enjoyed the 'errands' - side trips that Greg takes to discover what else is being done in the Green Movement to make life on earth a little more sustainable. I felt cheered to see that there are a lot of people dedicated to making a difference, and some of these ideas are practical and affordable.
This was just a fun book and a good read. Way to go, Greg! Here's hoping that everyone who read this is inspired to make a few changes in their own lives.
October 22, 2008
I never expected to find a nonfiction book about "going green" to be fun and entertaining to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Greg Melville and his friend Iggy as they traveled across the country in a veggie-oil powered car. The author used an effective mix of information and humor to get his points across.
I learned more than I knew before about different "green" options for car fuel, heating, cooling, and electricity. Fascinating stuff. The author gives examples of when our national government has gotten it right, as well as when it has failed. The author also makes it clear that while many Americans can afford to make changes to their homes and vehicles to be more "green", many others cannot afford these changes on their own.
Would you believe I even enjoyed reading the author's notes? I turned to them as I finished each chapter and found that Mr. Melville has provided a wealth of information about the many places he passed through in his journey, as well as additional resources to learn about going green.
Interesting, entertaining, AND informative - especially for green novices like myself.
I learned more than I knew before about different "green" options for car fuel, heating, cooling, and electricity. Fascinating stuff. The author gives examples of when our national government has gotten it right, as well as when it has failed. The author also makes it clear that while many Americans can afford to make changes to their homes and vehicles to be more "green", many others cannot afford these changes on their own.
Would you believe I even enjoyed reading the author's notes? I turned to them as I finished each chapter and found that Mr. Melville has provided a wealth of information about the many places he passed through in his journey, as well as additional resources to learn about going green.
Interesting, entertaining, AND informative - especially for green novices like myself.
June 5, 2011
The author and his college best friend, Iggy, travel from Vermont to California in a 1985 Mercedes diesel station wagon that's been converted to run on vegetable oil. Their goal is to travel the entire way fueled by used (filtered) restaurant grease donations. On the way, Iggy challenges Greg to find out about renewable energy projects and "green" projects all over the country, and the story jumps back and forth between those trips to find out more about places like the Google headquarters and the wind farms on the northern plains, and a disappointing investigation of Al Gore's Tennessee mansion's energy use (he's not as green as he thinks he is, apparently). This is an awesome road trip story, as well as a story about what people are doing now to conserve, recycle and use renewable energy sources. I think my favorite part (other than laughing out loud at some of the things that happened to Greg and Iggy on the road) was the visit to Google headquarters... now THAT'S a place I'd love to see! Iggy, by the way, is Mrs. Fachner's son Peter, so it was even more fun to read because of that connection.
Want to read
May 18, 2009Book Jacket:
Journalist Greg Melville is determined to try. With his
college buddy Iggy riding shotgun, this green-thinking
guy--who's in love with the idea of free fuel--sets out
on an enlightening road trip. Their quest: to be the first
people to drive cross-country in a french-fry car. Will
they make it from Vermont to California in a beat-up 1985
Mercedes diesel station wagon powered by fryer oil
collected from restaurant grease Dumpsters along the way?
More important, can two guys survive 192 consecutive hours
together?
Their expedition on and off the road includes visits to
the solar-powered Google headquarters; the National
Ethanol Council; the wind turbines of southwestern
Minnesota; the National Renewable Energy Lab; a truly
green home; an "eco-friendly" Wal-Mart; and the world's
largest geothermal heating system.
Part adventure and part investigation of what we're doing
(or not doing) to preserve the planet, "Greasy Rider" is
upbeat, funny, and full of surprising information about
sustainable measures that are within our reach.
Journalist Greg Melville is determined to try. With his
college buddy Iggy riding shotgun, this green-thinking
guy--who's in love with the idea of free fuel--sets out
on an enlightening road trip. Their quest: to be the first
people to drive cross-country in a french-fry car. Will
they make it from Vermont to California in a beat-up 1985
Mercedes diesel station wagon powered by fryer oil
collected from restaurant grease Dumpsters along the way?
More important, can two guys survive 192 consecutive hours
together?
Their expedition on and off the road includes visits to
the solar-powered Google headquarters; the National
Ethanol Council; the wind turbines of southwestern
Minnesota; the National Renewable Energy Lab; a truly
green home; an "eco-friendly" Wal-Mart; and the world's
largest geothermal heating system.
Part adventure and part investigation of what we're doing
(or not doing) to preserve the planet, "Greasy Rider" is
upbeat, funny, and full of surprising information about
sustainable measures that are within our reach.
October 13, 2008
I'll start by admitting that this isn't my usual reading fare. I picked it up because the author is an old friend from grade school through high school.
I enjoyed this immensely. Mostly because I know the author and have a different insight than most readers would as would any of our old friends/classmates.
But the book did make me stop and think. I may very well pick up a couple of other books and do some research of my own. Ultimately, isn't that what a writer wants from his readership? To stop and think about things that they may not have thought about before? To open a new perspective? In that, Greg succeeded. At least in my instance.
The book is informative but not so bogged down with technical gobbledygook and preachings to dissuade you from looking this stuff up on your own. Greg has a great voice throughout, informing and funny, light yet with an undercurrent of seriousness.
Well done, my friend!
I enjoyed this immensely. Mostly because I know the author and have a different insight than most readers would as would any of our old friends/classmates.
But the book did make me stop and think. I may very well pick up a couple of other books and do some research of my own. Ultimately, isn't that what a writer wants from his readership? To stop and think about things that they may not have thought about before? To open a new perspective? In that, Greg succeeded. At least in my instance.
The book is informative but not so bogged down with technical gobbledygook and preachings to dissuade you from looking this stuff up on your own. Greg has a great voice throughout, informing and funny, light yet with an undercurrent of seriousness.
Well done, my friend!
October 21, 2008
I wasn't sure what to expect in this book. Would it be preachy? Would it just talk about the benefits of going green and ignore the current challenges and obstacles?
I was pleased to find that it's not preachy nor one-sided. As it turns out, having a grease-car and driving it across the country is possible, but not easy. Vegetable oil is smelly, gets everywhere on the clothes and bodies of the users, congeals in cold weather, isn't easy to acquire, and requires a petrodiesel starter before it can be used.
The book goes beyond just talking about grease-cars and discusses wind power, solar, geothermal, nuclear, coal, and other current and future ways we'll power our lives. The final message is that weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels is not only better for the environment, but actually makes economic sense in the long run. The question is that once we finally make the proper investments, will it be too late?
I was pleased to find that it's not preachy nor one-sided. As it turns out, having a grease-car and driving it across the country is possible, but not easy. Vegetable oil is smelly, gets everywhere on the clothes and bodies of the users, congeals in cold weather, isn't easy to acquire, and requires a petrodiesel starter before it can be used.
The book goes beyond just talking about grease-cars and discusses wind power, solar, geothermal, nuclear, coal, and other current and future ways we'll power our lives. The final message is that weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels is not only better for the environment, but actually makes economic sense in the long run. The question is that once we finally make the proper investments, will it be too late?
Currently reading
October 2, 2013 I read the book Greasy Rider written by Greg Melville. This book was a joy to read. It was adventurous and it made the reader want to keep reading the next page. Greg Melville had great and honest intentions before, during, and after his road trip. His curiosity and writer instincts are what make the book a great joy to read. One thing that really made the book interesting was the conversations between Greg and Iggy. They discussed multiple things including environmental issues, who started the French fry car, bets, family and friends. Another thing that made the story more compelling is that his wife had a strongly opposed towards the idea of a french-fry car, Melville carefully weighed the pros and cons. However, there is no doubt a positive was making his wife happy. The ever present sent of fried food and incessant grease spots on clothing where a small price to pay for a car that runs on free gas.
September 15, 2008
This book was sent to me as a Library Thing Early Reviewer. It's about two guys that decide to make a cross-country trip in a Mercedes that has been converted to run on used vegetable oil. A "french fry" mobile for sure.
There are a lot of interesting side trips. They visit Al Gore's home which they consider to be the ideal Green home. They also visit Google headquarters which I found fascinating.
What I did not get from the book is their purpose. The author is a journalist of sorts so he attempts to interview folks when possible, but I'm not sure what they were trying to prove, other than seeing if their a car can be driven across the country on veggie oil alone.
There are some humorous moments. I read it more as a travelogue than a book written with a green statement in mind.
There are a lot of interesting side trips. They visit Al Gore's home which they consider to be the ideal Green home. They also visit Google headquarters which I found fascinating.
What I did not get from the book is their purpose. The author is a journalist of sorts so he attempts to interview folks when possible, but I'm not sure what they were trying to prove, other than seeing if their a car can be driven across the country on veggie oil alone.
There are some humorous moments. I read it more as a travelogue than a book written with a green statement in mind.
June 14, 2010
Meh. A presumably middle-age guy and his friend drive an old Mercedes wagon powered on vegetable oil cross country. The book consists of chapters about the trip mixed with chapters about other environmental issues.
The trip isn't eventful enough, nor is the writer interesting enough, to be particularly enjoyable. Like a lot of authors who haven't had much experience with real life or real people, he's hard to relate to. He decides that a group of people in a large SUV must be miserable because they own a large SUV. He dislikes corporations, to the point of lamenting a supreme court decision that said the government couldn't change company's corporate charters. His answer to everything is regulatory fiat.
There are some interesting info about alternative energy, but also a lot of drivel.
The trip isn't eventful enough, nor is the writer interesting enough, to be particularly enjoyable. Like a lot of authors who haven't had much experience with real life or real people, he's hard to relate to. He decides that a group of people in a large SUV must be miserable because they own a large SUV. He dislikes corporations, to the point of lamenting a supreme court decision that said the government couldn't change company's corporate charters. His answer to everything is regulatory fiat.
There are some interesting info about alternative energy, but also a lot of drivel.
February 26, 2013
Greasy Rider (what a great title) combines elements from Horatio’s Drive (traveling cross country using new technology), Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods (just envision Iggy as the infamous Katz), A.J. Jacobs (kooky, funny experiments), and Mary Roach’s funny riffs on all things science. I learned that Al Gore is hypocritical at best, Google is as green a company as they come, and that switchgrass may well hold the key to our energy future. The “errands” which interrupt the chapters (they are carried out later) are presented much more dryly, as befits their status as updates on topics such as geothermal energy or wind power. It took me a while to adjust to the change of tone, though eventually I appreciated getting the information in context. Anyone interested in environmental issues or funny road trips will absolutely race through this book.
March 1, 2013
Many thanks to Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill and Goodreads for the chance to read this book as an early release.
A well written book about going green in a greasy way! I enjoyed the perspective of this book, the idea that it is possible and not that far away necessarily to move away from guzzling gas.
The book spurred thoughts of other creative ways I can 'go green' in my life.
We need more environmentally conscious people sharing their good/creative/new ideas for conserving energy and moving away from an addiction to oil (the under-the-earth kind).
I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a fun and interesting read about changing our future for the better when it comes to transportation!
A well written book about going green in a greasy way! I enjoyed the perspective of this book, the idea that it is possible and not that far away necessarily to move away from guzzling gas.
The book spurred thoughts of other creative ways I can 'go green' in my life.
We need more environmentally conscious people sharing their good/creative/new ideas for conserving energy and moving away from an addiction to oil (the under-the-earth kind).
I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a fun and interesting read about changing our future for the better when it comes to transportation!
October 18, 2008
It's kind of amazing that Greg Melville could find a way to work his homophobia and sexism into a book about running a car on grease. Wow. He is an uninformed, poor writer who thinks Wal-Mart is cool. He also is under the delusion that he was the first person to drive cross-country using WVO. What??? This was done a decade ago. Ultimately, Greasy Rider is a marginal attempt at educating run of the mill liberals how to rethink their energy consumption. Try books by Lyle Estill or Greg Pahl instead.
January 20, 2010
this book is about two friends named greg and iggy and they go on an adventure from vermont all the way to califonia. on a "grease car" a mercedes that runs on vegetable car also known as the veggie car. on the way they meet al gore's house which is energy efficient. and companies that are also energy efficient. i would compare this book to the plot to save the planet. its about ways you could help with the planet and using energy effiecient appliances. i would rate this book five stars because the book is described as if it is a documentary. and shows how much better it is to help the earth.
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